Author's Note: I don't own Wicked.

Chapter 1

Dreams didn't come true for girls like Elphaba. But then of course, there was no one like her...that being green. She sat on a bench outside of the library under a cherry blossom tree in a dimly lit area wiping her tears away with her bare hands.

Fiyero watched her from a distance, and felt his heart break. He wondered why she was crying. He's never seen Elphaba cry before...never thought she could actually cry. She had always been strong, self assured, and always held her head up high.

The prince walked toward her, pressing his lips together, unsure of what to say. He squatted down in front of her.

"What are you doing here, Tiggular?" she asked, unable to stop her tears as it flowed like a leaking faucet.

Fiyero offered her his handkerchief.

Taking it from him, she wiped her eyes. "Didn't want anyone to see me cry."

"It's only me. I won't say anything," he said. "Did something happen? Why are you upset?"

Elphaba shook her head.

Fiyero didn't say a word. He rose from his squatted position, then sat beside her.

Sniffles drowned the silence. They sat for a couple of minutes before she spoke.

"I'm just tired of everything. It never gets better. Everyone thinks that I have no feelings at all. Don't they think it doesn't hurt when I'm being ridiculed, laughed at? It never ends. I can feel. And I can't describe the hurt I feel inside. Except that it's painful. It's just that I've learned to put up this facade. But there are some days I just can't take it."

"And I'm just as much to blame. I've done my share of name calling in the very beginning. I'm so sorry."

"Leave me alone. Please."

"I wish I could make things better for you," Fiyero said.

"Why do you care? Just go back to your dancing through life thing. With no care in the world."

He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to him. "Is that what you think of me? If you haven't noticed, I don't do those things anymore. I'm no longer that spoiled person I once was. I care about a lot of things. And at this very moment, I care about you."

"Why? We're not even friends. No one has ever cared. Except for Glinda, but she's so perky at times. I just want to be left alone to cry. Sometimes this overwhelming darkness is too much for me. This hidden pain is never going to heal."

"You need someone right now, and I'll be that someone," he said, his hands still on her shoulders. "So, whether you like it or not, I'm not leaving. I'll stay here." Fiyero blinked back a tear. "If you'll let me, I'll cry along with you. He pulled her toward him, embracing her tightly.

Elphaba resisted at first, but then resigned herself to his embrace, feeling the warmth and comfort of his body. She felt protected and safe in his arms, as if she was meant to be held by him. Her arms tightened against him.

Fiyero felt her take in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. Rocking her back and forth, she cooed like an infant. It was the most natural thing to him to offer comfort for the pain that was brought upon her all of her life.

"I've often asked myself what was it in your life that had made you the way you are. Tough, unfeeling, cold. But you're none of those. You're soft, gentle, and you feel a lot. You just never show it. It's okay to show the other side of you sometimes."

Elphaba sighed.

Fiyero pulled away. "Feeling better?"

She nodded. "Better."

Fiyero smiled. With his thumb, he wiped a teardrop which fell down her cheek, then reached out to tuck a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

His sudden gesture momentarily took her pain away. Elphaba looked at the cloth in her hand. "I'm sorry I soiled your handkerchief. And it's beautifully monogrammed."

"It's okay. I have lots. Keep it."

"As a memento," she said. "From the one whom I allowed to see through me. See the other side of me. Thank you, Fiyero."

"You're very welcome. And it's the first time you've ever said my first name. Thought maybe you didn't know it."

Elphaba smiled slightly. "Thought it was Prince."

Fiyero laughed. Her long dark hair loosely cascaded softly above her waist. Unaware, he played with the ends of her hair between his fingers.

"What are you doing?"

"What?"

"That," she pointed.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't realize what I was doing," he said, releasing her hair.

They sat quietly for a brief moment.

"I guess everyone has problems. I've been kicked out of so many universities, my parents were fed up with me. They're surprised I'm actually going to graduate soon. Wanted to prove to them that I'm not a failure. Can you actually see me being king one day?" He pointed to himself. "Truthfully, can you see me ruling a Kingdom?"

Elphaba studied him for several seconds, eyeing him from top to bottom.

"Hey, don't think too hard!" Fiyero ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay, so you don't think I'll be king material."

"If you put your mind to it, I could see you ruling your Kingdom."

"Really?"

There was a sparkle in her eyes. "Yes. You seem to get along with people, especially the women."

Fiyero made a funny face at her. "So, what are you going to do after graduation?"

"Wrote to my father and told him of my decision of not returning home. Of course, he expected me to have taken care of Nessa for the rest of my life. Told him I wanted a life of my own. So, he disowned me. He won't be at my graduation. I'm never going back to Munchkinland. I don't ever want to. One of my professors told me of an opening he knew of for a teaching position for five and six year olds at a primary school. Got an interview. I was offered the job and accepted the position."

"I'm happy for you. You stood up to your father. And already got a job. Little kids are cute. They'll love you," he said. "Kids aren't judgmental. They're very inquisitive."

"I'm hoping I'll do well there. How about you? Any plans for the future?"

"Follow in my dad's footsteps. Royal stuffs and things. I'll be his shadow for the next several months. He's not retiring anytime soon, but he wants me to learn the ins and outs of running our Kingdom. As a graduation gift, I was given Kiamo Ko Castle. So, I don't go back to them. Said I have to learn to be independent."

"Your family owns two castles?"

"Yes. We lived in one, and used the other for social gatherings."

"That's very generous of your parents. You'll be there all alone?"

"No, silly. I'll have a housekeeper and cook living there. And the guards outside."

"Yes right, independent."

"Well, I've got to be fed. And someone has to clean the castle. Where will you be living? You got a place yet?"

"I'm looking around. Glinda said I could stay with her until I find a place of my own."

"You want to live with me? I mean, I have lots of room at the castle. You'll have your own wing. Up the stairs, and one side is the east wing and the other side is the west wing. You interested?"

"Thanks but no thanks," Elphaba said. "I'll keep looking. Besides, you're my best friend's ex-boyfriend. It wouldn't be right."

"So? We're not together anymore. That was a long time ago. A couple of years ago. We parted amicably."

"I'll think about it."

"What's to think about? It's either a yes or no. I won't bother you. You could even have your meals sent up to your room if you wanted to. We don't have to eat our meals together."

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Just helping out a friend. No strings attached," Fiyero said.

"Won't I be in the way for your...you know."

"What?"

"Female friends?"

"What female friends? So, how about it? You'll take up on my offer?"

"You want me to be hired help? Because I don't do windows."

Fiyero smiled. "You can be funny if you want to be. Okay, truthfully, I really don't want to live alone. I grew up with servants around. At school, everyone's around. I mean, there will be the help but they have their own living quarters. I'll be all alone in that huge castle. Please say yes."

Elphaba stood up to leave. "I'll have to think about it. Thank you for the offer."

Fiyero grabbed her hand. "Wait."

She stared at their joined hands.

"Sorry," he said, releasing her hand. "There's a library in there."

"A library?"

"Yes, all the books you can read. I have no use for them. It could be your very own office."

Elphaba smiled.

"Is it a yes? You're smiling when I mentioned library. You could even sleep in there if you're too tired to go upstairs to your room. There's a sofa there. You could bring your students for a little excursion at the castle. I'll have Marcella, my cook serve them home made cookies and milk. And they could meet a real live Prince." Fiyero winked at her.

Elphaba arched an eyebrow. "And whom would that be?"

"Aww, come on, Elphaba. It'll be fun."

"I don't do fun. Since when did I become your best friend?"

"We see each other everyday at school anyway. Think of the castle as a dormitory. We'll have our own bedrooms. The kitchen will be like the cafeteria. And of course the library."

"If you put it that way, okay. But if it doesn't work out, I'll get my own place."

He rubbed his hands together. "It'll work out. I promise. You'll never want to leave. We'll have fun."

"I don't do fun. It will be a temporary thing. Never mind making foolish plans."

Fiyero smiled. "I'll be on my best behavior."

"We'll see about that," she said.

The prince held out his hand. "Deal?"

Elphaba extended hers to him. "Deal."

"Maybe sometimes we could take in a movie..."

"No plans, Fiyero."

"Or not," he said.

TBC - Chapter 2